Billy Joe Royal, Country Music Artist, Dies

By Timothy Yap Oct 07, 2015 02:28 AM EDT

Country music artist and committed Christian Billy Joe Roya has died. He was 73. Ronnie McDowell, Royal's tour partner, said the singer died in his sleep on Tuesday at his North Carolina home.

Royal lived in Nashville for over 20 years after hitting the music scene in the 1960s in Georgia. Royal was born April 3, 1942 in Valdosta, Georgia. He grew up just north of Atlanta. However, it was a move to Savannah that helped him to become known as a performer, gaining a huge following at the Bamboo Ranch. Close to 2,500 people each night would flock to the club to see Royal and others perform.

Royal's career path took him to Columbia Records, where he released "Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the Joe South composition helped him to become a star. The singer's subsequent hits included "I Knew You When" and "Cherry Hill Park," which became his final Top-40 on the pop charts in 1969. Royal would leave Columbia for stints on smaller labels in the 1970s, eventually landing on Mercury Records, for whom he released a self-titled album in 1980.

In the 80s, Royal made a comeback on the country charts after signing with Atlantic Records. He scored several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is", "Burned Like a Rocket", and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow"." In 2009, Royal released his final and first Gospel album entitled "His First Gospel Album" via Gusto Records.

Funeral plans are still pending. He is survived by his ex-wife Michelle Royal, daughter Savannah Royal and setpsons Trey and Joey Riverbank.